 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frederick Charles Steele[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1916-05-06)6 May 1916[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Hanley,Stoke-on-Trent, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 23 April 1976(1976-04-23) (aged 59)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Newcastle-under-Lyme, England[1] | ||
| Height | 5 ft10+1⁄2 in (1.79 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Downing's Tileries | |||
| 1931–1933 | Stoke City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1933–1949 | Stoke City[4] | 224 | (140) |
| 1949–1951 | Mansfield Town | 53 | (39) |
| 1951–1953 | Port Vale | 25 | (12) |
| Total | 302 | (191) | |
| International career | |||
| 1936–1937 | England[5] | 6 | (8) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1946 | KR Reykjavík | ||
| 1946 | Iceland | ||
| 1949–1951 | Mansfield Town | ||
| 1951–1957 | Port Vale | ||
| 1962–1965 | Port Vale | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Frederick Charles Steele (6 May 1916 – 23 April 1976) was an English professionalfootballer who played as aforward forStoke City andEngland. He also had spells atMansfield Town andPort Vale as aplayer-manager, leading Vale to a league title.[6] He remains a legendary figure in the histories of both Stoke and Vale. His nephew is former England cricketerDavid Steele.[7]
Signing with Stoke City in 1931 at the age of 15, he set aclub record when he scored 33 league goals in the1936–37 season. During the season, his 214-day-long international career also made for impressive reading, as he hit eight goals in six games for England. However, a series of misfortunes severely disrupted his playing career. Picking up a serious knee injury in 1937, he retired two years later after suffering from depression – aged just 23. After improving his physical and mental state, he resumed his career, only to have it cut short again, this time due to the outbreak of World War II. Guesting for several clubs, he also had a spell in Iceland where hecoachedKR Reykjavík. He was appointedmanager of the national team for their first international match in 1946. He continued his Stoke career after the war before joiningMansfield Town as player-manager in 1949.
In 1951, he was appointed asPort Vale manager. His six years with the club were some of the most significant in the club's history, as he masterminded aThird Division North title-winning season, as well the club's onlyFA Cup semi-final appearance. After the team he cultivated proved to be 'past it' by 1957, he too left the club. Returning as manager in 1962, his second spell would prove less successful, and he left the club for good three years later.
Frederick Charles Steele was born on 6 May 1916 inHanley,Stoke-on-Trent.[3] He was an uncle to cricketerDavid Steele.[8] He married Ann, asapper in AA company, in 1938.[3] He ran the Plough Hotel inStoke in the 1950s.[3] He was posthumously inducted into the Stoke-on-Trent Sporting Hall of Fame in 2024.[9]
Freddie Steele was signed forStoke City in 1931, aged 15, bymanagerTom Mather.[10] He carried out work in the club's offices until he was old enough to turn professional.[10] He made his first-team debut on 22 December 1934, in a 4–1 win overHuddersfield Town in aFirst Division match atLeeds Road.[8] He scored his first goal for the club four days later, in a 3–0 victory overWest Bromwich Albion at theVictoria Ground.[8] He was nicknamed "Nobby" by the club's supporters.[8]
The departure ofTommy Sale meant Steele had to take up the mantle of top-scorer forBob McGrory's side. He did so with 33 goals in 35 league games in1936–37, making him the First Division's top scorer – this tally also remains aclub record to this date.[11] His tally included five goals in a 10–3 victory over West Brom on 4 February, a club record victory.[8]
He continued to terrorise the "Baggies" in1937–38, scoring ahat-trick in a 4–0 home win on 6 September before getting five goals in an 8–1 trouncing ofDerby County five days later. He finished the1937–38 campaign with 15 goals in 23 games, having struggled to recover from a knee injury sustained in a game againstCharlton Athletic.[10] Steele then returned to form in1938–39, scoring 27 goals in 33 matches, including four against Birmingham and a hat-trick againstChelsea. He then decided to retire due to depression in 1939, aged only 23.[10] However, after receiving hypnosis treatment frompsychiatrist, he opted to return to the game.[7] The outbreak ofWorld War II then halted his progress, as theEnglish Football League was suspended. He guested forSheffield United,Northampton Town,Notts County,Leicester City,Doncaster Rovers,Bradford Park Avenue,Leeds United,Nottingham Forest andFulham.[12]
He returned tothe Potteries in1945–46, scoring 49 goals in 43 games during the season.[8] Competitive football resumed for the1946–47 season. Steele scored 31 goals in 43 games, bagging hat-tricks against Middlesbrough, Sheffield United,Grimsby Town, andBurnley, as Stoke posted another fourth-place finish. He wasStoke's top-scorer for a sixth-successive season in1947–48, though he hit just 12 goals in 23 appearances; his contribution as the campaign was limited as he spent four months on the sidelines with abroken leg.[7] He hit 19 goals in 42 games in1948–49, thoughFrank Bowyer had by then taken up the mantle as Stoke's main goal getter. Steele left the club in 1949 due to persistent knee problems.[11] Nicknamed "Nobby" by fans,[4] Steele scored 220 goals in 384 games in all competitions during his tenure at the club.[6] He remains the second-highest scoring in theclub's history, afterJohn Ritchie.
In April 1946, it was announced that Steele would travel to Iceland to become the manager ofÚrvalsdeild clubKR Reykjavík during the summer of that year.[13] It his firstcoaching appointment with a senior side. However, he had previously coached in the youth teams at Stoke City.[14] Under his guidance, the team won three, drew one and lost one of their five matches to finish as runners-up behindFram.[15] Steele was subsequently selected to manage theIceland national team in its first international match againstDenmark on 17 July 1946. Scottish coach Murdo McDougall, who had first moved to Iceland asValur manager in 1937, was named as his assistant.[16] Steele included several of his players from KR in the Iceland team, including Birgir Guðjónsson and Jón Örn Jónasson, but could not prevent the side losing 3–0 before a crowd of 8,000 spectators at the Melavöllur.[17] Upon leaving Iceland on 17 August 1946, to return to England in time for the start of Stoke City's season, he spoke of how he had enjoyed his time in Iceland. He stated his desire to return the following summer,[18] although the move never materialised.
Steele assumed aplayer-manager role atMansfield Town in 1949. He was prolific in front of goal, scoring 44 goals in 62 league and cup appearances – this scoring record made his job as manager much easier. The "Stags" finished eighth in theThird Division North in1949–50. They then went on a 23-game unbeaten run, but could only end up finishing as the division's runners-up in1950–51, seven points behind championsRotherham United. Steele signed players such as defenderDon Bradley, and wing-half'sOscar Fox andSid Watson. Steele leftField Mill forPort Vale for a four-figure fee in December 1951, and Mansfield finished the1951–52 season in sixth place under his successorGeorge Jobey.
Replacing the unpopularIvor Powell in December 1951, Steele was a popular choice as the new player-manager.[19] His team were bottom of theThird Division South table, However, he did not make any new signings, and he sold strikerWalter Aveyard toAccrington Stanley for a four-figure fee.[20] Steele turned around results using the players at his disposal, and Vale lost just four of their last twenty games ofthe season to finish a comfortable 13th.[20] From 9 February until 8 September of the following season, the team set a club record 13 home wins.[21]
Vale were moved to theThird Division North in1952–53. Steele kept the playing squad as it was, deeming the players he inherited to have the potential to achievepromotion.[20] Despite Ivor Powell coming back to haunt the club by leadingBradford City to victory on the opening day of the season, Vale showed their class by losing just seven of their remaining 41 games.[20] Steele dropped himself as a player in December 1952 to focus on management, building up a strong side based around a formidable defence, mainly using local players,[1] also favouring more experienced players over more youthful hopefuls.[22] However, they finished in second-place, one point behindOldham Athletic, and so were not promoted.[20]
The1953–54 season was the finest inthe history of Port Vale, and Steele's team's achievements were built with almost exactly the same playing staff that were bottom of the league when Steele arrived atVale Park.[20] Vale's hard-working defensive five-some ofRay King (goalkeeper),Tommy Cheadle,Reg Potts,Stan Turner, andRoy Sproson were hailed as 'theIron Curtain' or 'the Steele Curtain' (in honour of their manager).[20] They finished top of the table with 69 points, eleven clear of second-placedBarnsley.[20] Their 26 league goals conceded in a 46-game season was a record.[20] Just five of these were conceded at home, another Football League record.[20] This was based upon 30 clean sheets, again a Football League record.[20] They also recorded a club record low of three league defeats.[20] They were undefeated at home all season, continuing a 42 match unbeaten run started on 8 November 1952, that would last until 18 September 1954.[20] His team's achievements were built on a settled squad of 19 players, twelve of which played regularly.[20] However, the greatest success came in theFA Cup, where they beatDarlington,Southport,Queens Park Rangers,First Division teamsCardiff City andBlackpool, and finallyLeyton Orient to reach thesemi-finals.[20] There Vale lost 2–1 toWest Bromwich Albion atVilla Park in highly controversial fashion, as the "Baggies" were awarded apenalty despite thefoul having occurred outside the box, and Vale also had a goal disallowed foroffside.[20]
The1954–55 campaign would prove to be a disappointment, as the "Valiants" finished 17th in theSecond Division.[20] The team lost their defensive edge as Steele opted for a more attacking 'semi-continental style'.[20] He added to his fire-power by signing experienced forwardCyril Done and young strikerLen Stephenson.[20] He organised a more defensive line-up for the1955–56 campaign. He spent aclub-record£7,000 forTottenham HotspurplaymakerEddie Baily.[20] He gave a youngHarry Poole his debut as Vale fell out of the promotion race by the end of the season to post a respectable 12th-place finish.[20]
In preparation for the1956–57 season, he signedHarry Anders, a winger fromManchester City, for 'a substantial fee'.[20] However, injuries piled up as the 'old guard' of 1953–54 'cracked', whilst clever midfielder Eddie Baily was offloaded toNottingham Forest for £7,000, a club that much more appreciated his considerable talents.[20] With his team losing 13 of their last 17 games, Steele tendered his resignation on 15 January, saying, "I am quite prepared to face the consequences".[20] His successorNorman Low was unable to rescue Vale's season. They wererelegated in 1957.[20]
Steele returned to Vale Park when he replaced Norman Low as manager in October 1962.[1] He soldBert Llewellyn toNorthampton Town for £7,000 andArthur Longbottom toMillwall for £2,000; before boosting his strike-force withTony Richards fromWalsall for £9,000.[1] They finished1962–63 third in theThird Division, four points shy of promotion.[1] He spent big for the1963–64 campaign, bringing inNorthern Ireland internationalBilly Bingham fromEverton for £15,000;Albert Cheesebrough fromLeicester City for another £15,000; as well as Walsall'sTim Rawlings for £4,000 and wingerRon Smith fromCrewe Alexandra for £6,500.[1] In mid-season he further splashed out £12,000 for both ex-Scotland strikerJackie Mudie and left-backRon Wilson, both from Stoke City.[1] His team finished a disappointing 13th, though in the FA Cup they beat top-flightBirmingham City and heldLiverpool to a goalless draw.[1]
For the1964–65 season, Steele tried and failed to sign legendary "Spurs" strikerBobby Smith, and instead had to make do withRon Andrew (£3,000 from Stoke City), as well as goalkeeperReg Davies fromLeyton Orient.[1] The campaign started badly. Supporters were vocal in their criticism of the team's performances.[1] Steele tried rotating the team and keeping a settled side, but results continued against the Vale.[1] With the club bottom of the league despite the money he had spent in thetransfer market, Steele left 'by mutual consent' in February 1965.[1] His replacement, Jackie Mudie, could not prevent the club from sinking into theFourth Division.[1] Roy Sproson said that "he [Steele] had not got the enthusiasm or drive as before".[22]
Steele wascapped six times forEngland and scored in wins overSweden andFinland. In the Sweden game, on 17 May 1937, Steele scored a first halfhat-trick in a 4–0 win at theRåsunda Stadium.[23] He scored eight goals for his country in total, However, a knee injury sustained in 1937 meant that he did not play for his country again.[6]
Steele was noted for his brilliantheading ability.[7] He had a strong physique, and was able to battle with defenders willing to get physical with him. He could play with both feet and had a good turn of pace.[7]
"In thepenalty box he was lethal, clinical and merciless, firing in shots from the tightest of angles and the smallest of spaces ... a masterpiece of strength, endurance, polish and skill that more often than not resulted in a billowing net."
— Stanley Matthews describing Steele in his autobiography.[24]
Roy Sproson later said that "he [Steele] was a greatpsychologist. He was also a tremendous tactician and, looking back, was years ahead of his time."[22]Graham Barnett told of how Steele would know every detail about all of his players and how the first team would idolize him for his inspirational personality.[25] Tactically, he brought his wingers back to play four across the midfield and had one side of his team as quick powerful tacklers and the other side as neat and skilful.[26] He emphasised teamwork and fitness.[27]
Sproson described Steele as a very tense individual who "would disappear for the last five minutes and was to be found hiding in the toilet."[22]Ray Hancock also said that Steele watched the games from the treatment room to distance himself from the pressure on thepitch, and even once left the ground entirely as he could not handle the stress of the occasion.[28] In appearance Steele "used to wear atweedtrilby, a pair of black and white hooped football stockings with his suit and let his hair grow long!"[20]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 1934–35 | First Division | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 1935–36 | First Division | 29 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 33 | 11 | |
| 1936–37 | First Division | 35 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 37 | 36 | |
| 1937–38 | First Division | 23 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 15 | |
| 1938–39 | First Division | 31 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 33 | 27 | |
| 1945–46 | – | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | |||
| 1946–47 | First Division | 38 | 29 | 5 | 2 | 43 | 31 | |
| 1947–48 | First Division | 21 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 12 | |
| 1948–49 | First Division | 38 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 42 | 19 | |
| Total | 224 | 140 | 27 | 19 | 251 | 159 | ||
| Mansfield Town | 1949–50 | Third Division North | 22 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 24 | 19 |
| 1950–51 | Third Division North | 19 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 18 | |
| 1951–52 | Third Division North | 12 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 7 | |
| Total | 53 | 39 | 9 | 5 | 62 | 44 | ||
| Port Vale | 1951–52 | Third Division South | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 |
| 1952–53 | Third Division North | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | |
| Total | 25 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 12 | ||
| Career total | 302 | 191 | 36 | 24 | 338 | 215 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 1936 | 2 | 0 |
| 1937 | 4 | 8 | |
| Total | 6 | 8 | |
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Mansfield Town[31] | 1 August 1949 | 24 December 1951 | 123 | 61 | 31 | 31 | 049.59 |
| Port Vale[31] | 24 December 1951 | 15 January 1957 | 246 | 100 | 73 | 73 | 040.65 |
| Port Vale[31] | 1 October 1962 | 28 February 1965 | 123 | 43 | 32 | 48 | 034.96 |
| Total | 498 | 207 | 137 | 154 | 041.57 | ||
Port Vale
England
